CAROLINAS NUGGETS : May 15th, 2008
News Bits From The Carolinas and Beyond
by Jason Buckley
LegendsNation.com
BANDO DRIVERS: ARE YOU READY FOR THE SUMMER SHOOTOUT? BEC SEMINAR MAY 20TH
Now his company, Bond Engineering and Consulting, (BEC) is teaming up with some of the brightest minds the short track racing world to present a Bandolero Seminar on May 20th, 2008 to assist teams involved in the competitive Bandolero ranks in the Southeast prepare for and succeed in major events such as the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Summer Shootout and more.
The seminar, which was originally scheduled for May 13th, was moved to the 20th to be closer to the NASCAR Pole Night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway as well as the Summer Shootout.
To learn more and to attend this seminar to get your car right before the Shootout, click here, or you can sign up here.
NEW INEX PENALTIES AND ENGINE RULES GO INTO EFFECT THIS WEEKEND
Bond Suss has been involved in the motorsports industry for more than 20 years. He has turned wrenches in every form of racing, from weekly Late Models in the tracks of the Upper Midwest all the way to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He’s won races and championships in ASA with notable drivers such as Mike Garvey, Joey Clanton and Kevin Cywinski. He’s been a head wrench in the NASCAR ranks and currently serves as the crew chief for 15-year-old Super Late Model standout Zach Stroupe, and was instrumental in getting Stroupe his first PASS South Super Late Model victory this past weekend at Motor Mile Speedway (VA).
Meghan Dillner is moving to the Pro Challenge this season. (51 Sports Photo)
One of the biggest news items over the last few years in Legends Car competition came to head just a short 15 days ago as 600 Racing / INEX has announced new penalties for violations as well as new engine rules, which some feel cripple the 1200cc unsealed engines.
Effective May 18th, drivers found tampering with shocks, engine seals, modifying 1200cc engines outside the accepted range laid out in the rules, using a substance which alters the durometer reading on tires or is caught using traction control devices will receive a lifetime ban for the series. The lifetime ban can be appealed at the cost of $50,000.00 (not refunded if the penalty is upheld).
DEVIN JONES LANDS AT BEATTIE RACING
Last season, Bandolero driver Devin Jones raced under the Hurricane Racing banner. When the young driver decided to move up to Legends Cars, they switched to the Nick Pistone Racing banner. After a few months of being at NPR, Jones has now aligned himself with Beattie Racing and will race this year at many tracks in the Semi-Pro Legends division.
NASCAR POLE NIGHT SET FOR THURSDAY, MAY 22ND
Legends and Bandolero drivers have one last opportunity to get ready for the 2008 Summer Shootout Series at Lowe's Motor Speedway in race form at the Thursday, May 22nd NASCAR Pole Night. For more information, visit 600 Racing's website, or download these forms: May LMS Waver (click here) - May LMS Entry Form (click here)
SOUND OFF IN THE MOTORSPORTS LOUNGE LEGENDS NATION DISCUSSION FORUMS
Do you have an opinion on the news, information and the happenings in the Legends and Bandolero community? Speak up and let your voice be heard in the LegendsNation.com discussion forum at Motorsports Lounge, covering the Legends and Bandolero racing action.
To visit the discussion forum to register, read and post, click here.
Also effective May 18th is the new compression rules for the 1200cc unsealed engines to 165 pounds, tested in accordance to the INEX rulebook. The lifetime ban does apply for those that break this specific rule.
For more on the new rules and penalties, click here.
NEW SANCTIONING BODY FOR LEGENDS CAR RACING?
The new engine rules 600 Racing and INEX are mandating have created such a buzz across the Legends community that some unhappy with 600 and INEX might be forming a new Legends sanctioning body to race under.
LegendsNation.com has heard a new group called “Lcars” is forming, possibly being head up by the 1200cc unsealed engine builders and others that race and use the non-600 Racing power plants at the track. Details on this new group are sketchy at this time, including what rules will be used, who will oversee the operation and where they will race.
LN will have more on this developing outlaw-style series as details become available.
PRO CHALLENGE INTEREST SPIKES
Besides the rumors of the new sanctioning body forming for the rogue Legends group, LegendsNation.com is hearing interest in the Pro Challenge Series has spiked recently, especially after the engine announcement. Many current drivers in Legends Cars as well as those looking towards the next step from the Bandoleros have been discussing the Pro Challenge Series on discussion boards and at the race track. LN has heard Lanier National Speedway (GA), known for their strong association with Legends Car racing, is looking to invite Pro Challenge to race at their track every other week in the 2009 season.
For more on Pro Challenge, visit www.prochallenge.net.
MEGHAN DILLNER TO MAKE FINAL BANDOLERO START NEXT WEEK; MOVING TO PRO CHALLENGE
Meghan Dillner, daughter of SPEED TV and LegendsNation.com Executive Editor Bob Dillner, will be making her final start in the Bandolero Young Guns division at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (NC) on Thursday, May 22nd for the May Speedweek’s NASCAR Pole Night. Dillner will be shifting her driving focus to the Pro Challenge division. In her first race in the series, she was able to bring her #151 BDI Racing Pro Challenge machine to a fifth-place finish.
Dillner will be attending the Summer Shootout, but not as a driver. She will be a reporter for LegendsNation.com. Beside race reports, she will also continue to write features for LN throughout the year as she has done in the past.
CHAD HACKENBRACHT TO RUN ARCA IN 2009
Semi-Pro Legends driver Chad Hackenbracht told LegendsNation.com this past weekend at Caraway Speedway (NC) that he is planning on running in the ARCA RE/MAX Series next year (2009 season).
BAILEY FREEMAN LEAVES NPR FOR CHM
Many drivers make changes at the start of the season to prepare for the Summer Shootout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (NC). Bailey Freeman is one of those drivers as she has made an early season switch from Nick Pistone Racing to Clay Hair Motorsports.
Freeman, and her brother John, have been associated with NPR for years, but according to Bailey, it was time for a change.
“It is kind of a better fit,” said Bailey Freeman. “We were having troubles where we were. I have nothing against them (NPR). They are great people and everything. It is just a better fit for me and my family (at CHM).”
KITTLE BROTHERS ON THE MOVE
After winning five of his last six Semi-Pro division races in Legends competition, Zach Kittle recently moved up to the Pro division. It didn’t take the driver long to get accustomed to the new division as he went to victory lane at Lanier Speedway.
Zac’s brother Judson also started his move up the ladder in Legends Car competition as he moved to Semi-Pro after winning three Chargers division races at Atlanta Motor Speedway (GA).
ZACH STROUPE GETS FIRST SUPER LATE MODEL VICTORY IN PASS SOUTH COMPETITION
Zach Stroupe and the BDI Racing crew celebrated after their first Super Late Model victory. (51 Sports Photo)
Former Legends driver Zach Stroupe went to victory lane in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South “Mom 150” at the Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia. Stroupe and the BDI Racing team defeated some of the best Super Late Model drivers in the country, including Ben Rowe and Cassius Clark, to win the 150-lap event ahead of Corey Williams, a former Legends driver as well. Stroupe, at 15 years of age, is the youngest driver to win a Super Late Model race in PASS history.
Stroupe sits fourth in the series points after three races in the southern division, closely followed by 2007 Legends Semi-Pro National Champion John Stancill.
For more on Stroupe’s win and the “Mom 150” PASS South SLM race, visit Speed51.com (click here for story).
